Carnival

We have exciting news to share! This year THE CARNIVAL IS MOVING TO ART DYE PARK! This will allow the Carnival to bring more rides and will bring multiple events together making Steel Days even better and more fun than it has been in the past!

Bring the whole family to Art Dye Park for squeals and thrills at the City of Fun Carnival's array of rides, snacks and activities.

We sell 'universal tickets,' called SteelDeal tickets, during the few weeks leading up to Steel Days celebration, that allow visitors to present one ticket for any ride at the carnival (even if the ride sign says 4 tickets). SteelDeal tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE. The carnival will be open on Thursday, July 18th from Noon - 10:30 pm, Friday, July 20th from 10:30 am - 10:30 pm and Saturday, July 21st from 10:30 am - 10:30 pm.

Online tickets may be purchased until 11:59 p.m. on July 17th. Online tickets can be picked up at the City Administration Building on the following business day during regular business hours.​You can purchase SteelDeal tickets at any of the businesses listed below from June 25th - July 17th. No checks or credit cards will be accepted at the retail locations - CASH ONLY. :

Alpine Lock and Safe (309 E State St.)

American Fork City Administration Building - ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE PICK-UP ONLY (51 E. Main St.)

American Fork Library (64 S. 100 E.)

Bank of American Fork (33 E Main St.)

Central Bank (175 E. Main St.)

Durfey's Dry Cleaners (266 W. Main St.)

Fresh Market (135 E. Main St.)

Hart's Gas & Food (585 E. State St.)

Humphries Inc. (38 E. Main St.)

Taylor Drug (76 N. 1100 E.)

Utah Community Credit Union (196 N. West State)

History of the Carnival and American Fork CityPleasant Grove's Lou Melendez family owns and operates the City of Fun Carnival, which appears in American Fork during Steel Days. People who attend the carnival may not know of its origins, so close to home. In the 1960s, they had an empty week in their schedule and approached American Fork, proposing a celebration in which the city would sell the tickets for 15 cents instead of the going rate of 25 cents. All rides would take one ticket per ride all three days of the carnival's run.

At other towns, the carnival offers dollar day on opening day only. American Fork accepted and the carnival is still a part of Steel Days. The prices have increased according to the expenses, but the rides are still one ticket each.

In the early days, cotton candy was 15 cents, popcorn was a dime and drinks were a nickel. The carnival started in 1959 with two rides, the Wild Mouse and the Junior Speedway. Elvis Presley and Natalie Wood once rode the family's Wild Mouse. Their first merry-go-round was a Hershall Spellman 3 abreast. The horses arrived in crates and had to be assembled before they were put on the ride.

​Lois Melendez was given her first floss machine at a Fourth of July celebration in Murray, Utah. Lou set the machine on a crate, gave her sticks and sugar and told her to figure it out. Luckily, a customer offered to show her how to spin sugar and in no time she was spinning three machines at a time. Lois and their daughter Pam also learned to drive the big rigs. Lois had an article about her in a trucker's magazine. She drove until she was in her 70s and Pam is still driving, pulling the HazMats and doubles.

Lou Melendez had back surgery in 2008 and was hospitalized for three months. He did therapy and worked hard to get back on his feet and he was back on the road the following fall.

The family recently purchased a new FireBall and a couple of tractors. They run 19 trucks, with three sets of doubles, and have six pickups with 10 trailers. They have three bunk units and a shower truck. Their game concessions are run by Dennis Ewell Concessions and food is handled by Dream Catchers Cafe. Their sweet wagons are family owned and operated.

Pam serves as general manager of the carnival. Lou and Lois's daughter Teresa does the candy apples, and son Brad maintains the shops and does repairs. Lou and Lois have eight grandchildren. Bradley, Jr. travels and does repairs on the road, welding and electrical work.

City of American Fork Administrative Offices

51 E. Main St.American Fork, UT 84003

The Carnival will be held at Art Dye Park, located at 1000 N 550 E, American Fork, UT 84003